January 15, 2007: Volume 69, Number 3

President sparks dialogue at first fireside event

The quality of the dorm food. Terms abroad. Recycling on campus. The strategic plan.

Those were among the topics students wanted to talk about Friday night with President Stephen Ainlay during his first "fireside chat."

Several dozen students crowded into the pit of the Reamer Campus Center to pick the president's brain on all things Union.

Dressed in brown slacks, white shirt and brown tie, but sans jacket, the first-year president led a spirited discussion on a variety of topics for nearly two hours. He made it clear this was their meeting and no issue was off-limits.

While students wanted to get Ainlay's opinion on a number of issues and he gave a genuine response to each question, he deftly reminded them he was more interested in what was on their minds.

When Isaiah Buchanan, the freshman class president, asked Ainlay what changes he would like to see over the next several years, Ainlay responded, "I would like to know what your aspirations are.''

One topic that generated a great deal of discussion was student apathy. After a couple of first-year students complained that there wasn't enough to do on campus, some of the upperclass students reminded them of the many activities offered, but that students need to get involved.

"It's up to you after we leave to carry on the Union tradition,'' senior Alana Santaro told the group.

The president described his first few months on campus as rewarding and exciting, although he acknowledged, without elaborating, that there have been some bumps in the road.

"This is a remarkable place,'' Ainlay said. "I wouldn't have come here if you weren't who you are."

The "fireside chat" was the first of what is expected to be a series of informal talks with the president. It was sponsored by Student Forum.

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